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2010: Life, Love & Laughter

...everything in between and what happens after."  Donavon Frankenreiter

I am so happy to see a new year roll around!  Not that the old one was bad; but I sense a corner turned, a new chapter beginning. ...and I love new beginnings of any sort--even Mondays.  The end of the old year and start of a new one has always held a special place for me.  I much prefer to stay in and quiet, eat good food and be contemplative rather than take in parties or fireworks.  What I loathe is starting a brand new year with a lack-of-sleep-hangover--no alcohol required.  Yikes. --Not that I'm opposed to alcohol--but let's make it good stuff and imbibe early :)

In retrospect, some of the highs and lows of my 2010:

High:  all the quality AND quantity time I got to spend with my daughters, sons-in-law and eight grand kids!

Low:  all the time spent apart from Randy last year.

High:  my trip to Cambodia by myself.  Amazing and empowering. 

Low:  Working my way through the Hormonal Upheaval--thank you, Lord, Dr. B, & Lianne.  The question still remains, though:  was my life affecting my hormones or the other way around?  I suppose the answer is both.  Looking back from this shore, I'm OK with that. 

High/Low:  Nikki and family moving out of our Colorado home (low) in order to move into their own home (high) 10 minutes away from our home (double high :)

High:  Reclaiming said home for two rather than 7.

Low:  Dealing with contractors to achieve the above.  Mercy.   Truly a tale of "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."  I would list and rate them but I am afraid I would be sued.  ...and, admittedly, there were stars.  The Chappel's come to mind...:D  "This is going to cost the owners more, but in the end it will be worth it"  This Old House.  Indeed.






High:  My trip to Buffalo to meet with a dear Canadian sister (met in UB) to drive into Pennsylvania to meet up with some other dear Christian friends who had recently retired from Mongolia.  Excellent.

Low:  An extreme heartache.

High:  God's wonderful presence and tender leading to a better, stronger place of heart, mind & soul.

Taking a 3-month, 4-5 days-a-week Dahn yoga class.  Very healing in so many ways.

High:  A 2-week trip to Israel with Randy.  The trip of a lifetime.  Will change the way my Bible reads forever.

Low:  The ton of good-byes said in Mongolia.  Very transient place as far as foreigners go.

High:  The friendships forged in order to say the good-byes. 

All in all, the highs far outweighed the lows--even overshadowing the heartache which I thought would surely  consume me.

Enough looking back--onward ho!  On to the new year.  No fear (a theme the Lord hammered into me this last year :)  So, a fond farewell to 2010 and

"Lookin' for LIFE, LOVE & LAUGHTER and everything in between and what happens after"












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